Golf swing training device

ABSTRACT

A training aid with a substantially flat body is provided. The body includes a front end, a rear end, a first side, and a second side. The present invention may further include a protrusion extending from the front end of at least one of the first side and the second side of the body. A strike zone is formed along and within adjacent edges of the body and the at least one protrusion. In certain embodiments, a plurality of indicia are along a length of the least one protrusion. At least one flexible peg extends vertically from at least one of the protrusion and the body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisionalapplication No. 61/822,132, filed May 10, 2013, the contents of whichare herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a golf swing training aid and, moreparticularly, to a golf swing training aid to correct early uncocking ofthe wrists during the forward swing (casting), an outside to in swingpath, and a non-descending path.

Golf instruction is the art of equipping and training golfers to playbetter golf through improved awareness of swing cause and effects as aresult of the actions by theft body, the club, and theft effect on thegolf ball. Currently, most golfers have a casting issue, an outside toin swing path, and a swing on a non-descending path. Casting, an outsideto in swing path, and a swing on a non-descending path causes errantshots that do not project towards the desired target.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved golf swing training aidfor correcting casting, an outside to in swing path, and anon-descending path.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a golf training aid comprises: asubstantially flat body comprising a front end, a rear end, a firstside, and a second side; at least one protrusion extending from thefront end of at least one of the first side and the second side of thebody, wherein a strike zone is formed along and within adjacent edges ofthe body and the at least one protrusion; and at least one flexible pegextending vertically from at least one of the protrusion and the body.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention, shown in use;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a section view of the present invention, taken along line 4-4in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a top view of the present invention illustrating the alignmentof the pegs of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

The present invention includes a teaching aid including a substantiallyflat body platform. The present invention may correct three swingfaults, which may include casting, swinging on an outside to in path,and swinging on a non-descending path. The present invention includesthe platform body with a strike zone formed within. The platform may lieon the ground. The ball may be placed within the strike zone. If theclub is cast during the swing, the club head will hit the body areaproviding feedback that the club has been cast. If the club is swung onan outside-to-in path, the club head will hit one or more of the threerubber pegs. If the ball is not struck with a descending blow, thestrike will not be solid and thus the ball will not reach its' idealheight and distance.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, the present invention includes atraining aid 10 with a substantially flat body 12. The body 12 includesa front end 11, a rear end 13, a first side 15, and a second side 17.The present invention may further include a protrusion 19 extending fromthe front end 11 of at least one of the first side 15 and the secondside 17 of the body 12. A strike zone 21 is formed along and withinadjacent edges 16 of the body 12 and the at least one protrusion 19. Incertain embodiments, a plurality of indicia 18 are along a length of theleast one protrusion 19. At least one flexible peg 14 extends verticallyfrom at least one of the protrusion 19 and the body 12.

In certain embodiments, the at least one protrusion 19 of the presentinvention may include a first protrusion 19 extending from the firstside 15 of the body 12, and a second protrusion 19 extending from thesecond side 17 of the body 12. The strike zone 21 may be formed inbetween the first protrusion 19 and the second protrusion 19. In certainembodiments, each protrusion 19 may include the indicia 18. The indicia18 may be spaced apart from one another and may be numerically markedfrom 1 to 6. A beginner golfer 26 may place the ball 22 within thestrike zone around 6 to prevent casting. An intermediate golfer 26 mayplace the ball 22 in between 2 and 5 to prevent casting. An expertgolfer 26 may place the ball 22 around 1 to prevent casting.

In certain embodiments, the flexible pegs 14 may be made out of rubberand may be about 3.5 inches in length. The at least one flexible peg 14may include three flexible pegs 14 attached along at least one of thefirst side 15 and the second side 17 of the body 12 and the protrusion19. The three pegs 14 may be aligned with one another, and may beparallel with a target path 28 running through the middle of thetraining aid 10. Therefore, when a golfer 26 swings from outside to in,the golfer 26 may hit a peg 14 and may be instantly notified to correcttheir swing.

In certain embodiments, the three flexible pegs 14 may be removablyattachable to the first protrusion 19, the second protrusion 19, and thefirst side 15 and the second side 17 of the body 12. For example, theflexible pegs 14 may be removably attachable to the body 12 by hook andloop fasteners 20A, 20B. However, the pegs 14 may be releasablyattachable by other means, such as openings through the body 12 in whichthe pegs 14 fit through.

The present invention may include a plurality of hook and loop fastenertabs 20B. The three flexible pegs 14 may each include a hook and loopportion 20A attachable to the hook and loop fastener tabs 20B. Incertain embodiments, the two hook and loop fastener tabs 20B areattached along the length of the first protrusion 19, two hook and loopfastener tabs 20B are attached along the length of the second protrusion19, one hook and loop fastener tab 20B is attached to the body 12 on thefirst side 15, and one hook and loop fastener tab 20B is attached to thebody 12 on the second side 17. Therefore, the pegs 14 of the presentinvention may be moved from the first side 15 to the second side 17 andfrom the first protrusion 19 to the second protrusion 19 to accommodateleft and right handed players.

A method of using the present invention may include placing the trainingaid 10 on the ground, placing the ball 22 within the strike zone 21, andswinging a golf club at the ball 22. When the golfer 26 hits the body 12of the training aid 10, the golfer 26 is notified that they have castedthe club. If the golfer 26 hits the pegs 14, the golfer 26 is notifiedthat they have executed an outside to in swing. If the ball 22 does nottravel as far as intended, the golfer 26 knows that they hit the ball 22with a non-descending swing.

The present invention may be used at a golf practice range, using realgolf balls, inside a home or garage using foam or rubber golf balls, orswinging without using golf balls. The base may be placed on a doormator some other platform. Since the present invention offers instantfeedback, the golfer knows when their swing is incorrect. The result ofthe present invention is the same as a professional trainer informingthe golfer when their swing is incorrect.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A golf training aid comprising: a substantially flat body comprising a front end, a rear end, a first side, and a second side; at least one protrusion extending from the front end of at least one of the first side and the second side of the body, wherein a strike zone is formed along and within adjacent edges of the body and the at least one protrusion; and at least one flexible peg extending vertically from at least one of the protrusion and the body.
 2. The golf training aid of claim 1, wherein the at least one protrusion comprises a first protrusion extending from the first side of the body, and a second protrusion extending from the second side of the body, wherein the strike zone is formed in between the first protrusion and the second protrusion.
 3. The golf training aid of claim 1, wherein a plurality of indicia are along a length of the least one protrusion.
 4. The golf training aid of claim 3, wherein the plurality of indicia are equidistant from each other.
 5. The golf training of claim 4, wherein the indicia are numerically marked.
 6. The golf training aid of claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible peg comprises three flexible pegs attached along at least one of the first side and the second side of the body and the protrusion.
 7. The golf training aid of claim 2, wherein the at least one flexible peg comprises three flexible pegs removably attachable to the first protrusion, the second protrusion, and the first side and the second side of the body.
 8. The golf training aid of claim 7, wherein the three flexible pegs are removably attachable to the body and the first and second protrusion by a hook and loop fastener.
 9. The golf training aid of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of hook and loop fastener tabs, where the three flexible pegs each comprise a hook and loop portion attachable to the hook and loop fastener tabs.
 10. The golf training aid of claim 9, wherein two hook and loop fastener tabs are attached along the length of the first protrusion, two hook and loop fastener tabs are attached along the length of the second protrusion, one hook and loop fastener tab is attached to the body on the first side, and one hook and loop fastener tab is attached to the body on the second side.
 11. A method of practicing a swing comprising: placing the golf training aid of claim 1 on a surface; placing a golf ball within the strike zone; and swinging a golf club at the ball. 